Tree Lords IV

[Jenara]

"Oh she is a princess, we came here from Khur, interesting place, very hot." Locky rambles, trying to help them with her pouches. "A woman? Was she all alone? Oh Jerrard they have found Malika... Jerrard?" She looks at the mage in concern.

[HorizonsDream]

"You threatened us first," Imani points out. "I tried to open a dialog with the lot of you, but you attacked. I defended myself," she explains with a shrug. "As for the names of your masters, my husband did not know the names," she explains. "Though, he has heard rumors of draconians in this cursed forest trying to capture elves for a master. He sent me to help you with your plans, and then possibly make an alliance so that you can help him with his plans."

[JadedDM]

"Do you think we're stupid Baaz?" asks one. "Most diplomats don't open dialogue by throwing a web spell first. And your husband sent a princess to start an alliance with someone he didn't even know for sure existed? Or their names? Or what they were even trying to do? Yeah, right. Next you'll tell me you have some prime land in Nordmaar to sell me."

"Strip them of their possessions, and let's prep them for transport back to town," says their leader.

[HorizonsDream]

"Suit yourselves," Imani says. There really wasn't a whole lot she could do in this situation anyway.

[Breila]

Babuhska keeps watching the group, she will follow their tracks some time after all draconians have left.

[JadedDM]

The bozaks march the party to the south, deeper into the forest and away from their own destination in the process. It takes less than ten minutes before Locky is gagged, the draconians not able to stand her incessant and aimless chattering any further than that.

Each night, they make camp. The prisoners are kept near each other, their legs tied up to prevent escape (their arms are already tied behind their backs when traveling during the day). The bozaks set up a careful watch, with some walking a perimeter and others guarding the prisoners. However, nothing bothers them. The draconians seem to know where they are going, and are able to keep a steady pace, as if they knew this area of the forest very well.

Unknown to any, Babushka slowly follows a couple of hours behind them. Because there are so many of them, following their tracks prove easy enough--especially for one of her skill.

It's on the third day that the draconains suddenly call for a halt for no reason. "Gag the rest of them," the leader orders, and within moments, the rest of the party is gagged to prevent them from speaking. "Let's get ready," the leader then says. "We're almost there."

All twelve of the bozaks begin to chant a spell. As they chant, the faint image of elves become superimposed over their own bodies. The images them become more solid, while the actual appearance of the bozaks start to fade away. Finally, the images of the elves replace the image of the bozaks completely. All twelve now appear to be elven soldiers, wearing elven chain mail.

"Move out," the leader says. He may appear to be an elf, but his voice is the same--gruff and deep, instead of the typical light and melodious voice of a real elf.

The 'elves' then march the party forward, and a few minutes later their destination comes into view. Not a draconian encampment, ancient ruins, or anything of that ilk. No, instead it is an elven village. Not an abandoned one, either. It has been well-maintained, and elves walk about in peace, going about their lives without a care, as if the nightmare had never happened in the first place...

Elf Village.jpg (100.4 KiB) Viewed 5265 times

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End Chapter

[JadedDM]

XP is as follows:

Locky Lightfoot (Priestess of Paladine)
Participation - 200 XP
Chat with Ulster on becoming a knight - 50 XP
Chat with Babushka about 'home' - 100 XP
Drinking scene - 100 XP
Chat with Babushka about loss - 100 XP
Defeated a wyndlass - 833 XP
Casting Cure Light Wounds (x2) on Thuskar - 200 XP
Casting Cure Light Wounds on Imani - 100 XP
Casting Cure Moderate Wounds on Thuskar - 200 XP
TOTAL: 1,783 XP

Babushka (Blue Phoenix Ranger of Habbakuk)
Participation - 200 XP
Guilt over trusting Dara - 200 XP
Chat with Locky about 'home' - 100 XP
Drinking scene - 100 XP
Chat with Locky about loss - 100 XP
Defeated a wyndlass - 833 XP
Defeated 12 HD of enemies - 720 XP
TOTAL: 2,253 XP

Ulster Redbow (Fighter)
Defeated a wyndlass - 417 XP
Defeated 12 HD of enemies - 480 XP
TOTAL: 897 XP

Jerrard Foss (Wizard of the White Robes)
Participation - 200 XP
Pining for Malika - 200 XP
Chat with Fikod on joining group - 100 XP
Drinking scene - 100 XP
Chat with Ulster about nightmares - 50 XP
Casting Magic Missiles (x2) at the wyndlass - 100 XP
Defeated a wyndlass - 833 XP
Casting Armor on Babushka - 50 XP
Casting Identify - 50 XP
Casting Invisibility on Fikod - 100 XP
Casting Web at the bozaks - 100 XP
Bonus 10%
TOTAL: 2,071 XP

Thuskar Duggan (Fighter)
Defeated a wyndlass - 417 XP
Defeated 12 HD of enemies - 600 XP
Bonus 10%
TOTAL: 1,119 XP

Imani Mehmet (Fighter)
Participation - 100 XP
Self-Doubt over leadership - 200 XP
Chat with Thuskar on Ulster's behavior - 50 XP
Realization of strangeness of romantic situation - 200 XP
Drinking scene - 100 XP
Defeated a wyndlass - 833 XP
Defeated 12 HD of enemies - 720 XP
TOTAL: 2,203 XP

Fikod Uthmifoddom (Fighter/Thief)
Participation - 200 XP
Ruing loss of beard - 200 XP
Chat with Jerrard on joining group - 100 XP
Drinking scene - 100 XP
Defeated a wyndlass - 833 XP
Defeated 12 HD of enemies - 600 XP
Acquisition of 187.5 steel pieces - 375 XP
Bonus: 10 % (Thief only)
TOTAL: 1,204/1,324 XP

Fikod reaches level 6 as a thief!
+(1d6/2)+2 HP
+30 thief skill points